We're here. We're poultry. Get used to it.

As you may remember, last year there was quite a bit of talk about backyard chickens. In May of 2010, the Eau Claire City Council voted against allowing the raising and keeping of chickens within the community. And now members of Eau Claire Leaders for Urban Chicken Keeping (also known as ECLUCK) have  decided to changed their tactics a bit.

Their new proposal is for a two year test period in which up to 20 residents would be allowed to keep six hens in their yards. A maximum of eight coops in each of the city’s five districts would be allowed, and the city would issue 20 licenses at $20 apiece. In order to qualify for a license, residents need to take an educational course on chicken keeping, or show they have equivalent knowledge.  The proposal also includes specifications on coop construction and manure disposal – and states that families cannot sell the eggs or slaughter the birds. You may also notice that ECLUCK is referring to supporters of their cause as "Eau Claire Urban Hen Supporters," highlighting the exclusion of those noisy roosters.

Add to all this the relatively tiny number of Eau Claire households who would probably partake in urban chicken keeping – based on Madison's figures, we're talking a handful of homes across the entire city – and it's hard to see why this is even an issue for anyone opposing a potential ordinance change, let alone the trial proposal.

In addition to presenting their proposal to the City Council, ECLUCK members submitted background information to the council, as well as letters of support from the Hmong Mutual Assistance Association and the Inn Towne Food Pantry.

From ECLUCK's Facebok page, a list of important dates:

July 12, 4 pm - First reading of the ordinance before City Council
July 25, 7 pm - Public hearing at City Hall (your chance to your opinions)
July 26, 4 pm - City Council votes on the Demonstration Project

Updated 7/13/11

Last night (July 12) the urban chicken ordinance was proposed to the City Council. The first hearing is normally an introduction, but council member Mark Olson made a motion to vote on the proposal immediately. This proposition was rejected because individuals who were interested were not at the hearing to discuss it.  Councilmen state that there are several holes in the bill, such as the consent of neighbors. Now the action moves to July 25 when the first public hearing on the issue will be held at City Hall (7pm).